Then, a trembling but firm voice broke the silence. It was Ryan’s mother, Karen, who stood in the gallery, her face filled with both pain and resolve. For months, she had hoped her son would turn things around, quietly supporting him through his mistakes. But hearing him speak that way made her realize that protecting him had only delayed the inevitable. With tears in her eyes, she told the court that she could no longer shield Ryan from the results of his actions. She pleaded for a sentence that would help him change, even if it was difficult to accept.